Well, I was bored at 4AM and I remembered shooting off rockets earlier. I made a little...bet with myself...that I could post at least one chapter up about the Fourth Of July. It's Pokemon, of course, but next year...it might change to Puffy Ami Yumi or Teen Titans...or maybe even Ouran High School Host Club. Anyway, I think I'll start now, this is not a romancy thing...but there might be some hints...Anyway, I own the Valaries...nothing else...

It was a rather nice day outside. The clouds were pure white, the birds were as annoying as always, and people weren't out much. It was the weekend out course, but he might've thought there'd be at least a few kids out. He was a mere child himself, but it didn't matter. You are probably wondering 'who is this he?' Well I'll tell you who 'he' is, 'he' is twenty year old Ashton Ketchum, commonly known as Ash. Ash was lying on his couch with the remote falling out of his hands. One of his legs dangled off the side and his head rested on the arm. His messy, jet black hair was even messier than before. He sighed and looked at the television. It was one of those Fourth Of July shows. He frowned I haven't shot off any fireworks for a long time...He muted the TV and dropped the remote on the floor. His mind began wondering to the celebration that was supposed to be the next day. He began debating over whether he should gather his friends for the next day or whether he should watch the neighbors like he did every year. His neighbors were what most would call 'rivalry neighbors'. They always tried to outdo Ash on anything. If Ash cut his grass, they pulled weeds. If Ash planted daisies, they planted lilies. If Ash put up colorful Christmas lights, they put out reindeer that moved. Even if Ash had the scariest house on the block on Halloween, the neighbors would somehow outdo him. Ash never bothered with them, but he did want to beat them at something. So he decided to start with a bang, literately.

Ash stood up and grabbed his hat from the floor. He stuck it on his head and walked outside to his Lotis Exige and got in. He started it up, but just sat there. "Should I?" he glanced down the street at his neighbors, the Valaries. There were eight of them. Stella, Oliver, Harper, Milo, Claire, Jasper, Charlotte, and Emmett. [It goes girl, boy] They were just coming back and were unloading a bunch of boxes from their trunk. Boxes of fireworks. Stella happened to turn around and she smirked. Ash made a low growling sound and put his hands on the wheel. He pushed the gas pedal and then stopped by their driveway. He rolled the window down.

"Valarie," he seethed.

"Ketchum," she smiled. "Do you plan on shooting something off, or are you just gonna grab a front row seat to the Valarie Parade?" Ash frowned and answered her question, "For your information, Valarie, I plan on shooting something off. And I plan on doing it with my friends. Right in the street. Where everyone can see. And we'll beat you and your Val Pals in this little battle."

"Oh whatever! You couldn't win yard of the month," she reminded. Ash growled again and scowled. "Exactly...we'll see who's the most enthusiastic...tomorrow night," Stella winked and turned on her heels. Ash rolled the window back up and watched her strut back to her box. He gripped the wheel tighter and hit the gas a little too hard and he sped off. Barely making the corner. He pulled out his cell phone and called one of his friends, Leaf Green.

"Leaf here! What's up?" she asked in her normal cheerful voice.

"It's Ash."

"Hey buddy! What's the matter?"

"Nothing...you know those stupid neighbors down the street?"

"The Valaries? Yeah, what about them?"

"They challenged me to this thing to see who's the most enthusiastic on the Fourth Of July...I wanted to know if you wanted to come and shoot some off with me."

"SURE! I'd love to! I've always wanted to shoot firecrackers off with my friends! Do you mind me calling everyone else?"

"Not at all!"

"Awesome! See ya tomorrow at...seven?"

"Seven."

"Okay...see ya!"she hung up. Ash smiled, he knew Leaf could bribe anyone into doing what she wanted. She's done it to him once. He went on ahead and bought the fireworks. Almost as much as the Valaries, but her had bigger ones than them. As he drove home, Leaf called back saying that everyone but one agreed. And that one was the unsocial, quiet, always angry, smart mouthed [that's all I can think of] Paul. Ash knew it'd be hard to get him to go, he didn't really like fireworks. Ash did a turn and headed off towards his friends house. Paul was going to go, whether he liked it or not.

"Come on, man, it'll be awesome," Ash pleaded. He was sitting next to one of his other friends, Gary Oak. Across from them sat Paul and, Ash's other friend, Drew. Ash was asking, more like begging Paul to go.

"No," he repeated simply each time.

"But, Gary and Drew want you to go...right?" Ash looked to his friends for help.

"Sure," Gary shrugged.

"Yeah," Drew said.

"See?" Ash asked, facing Paul again.

"It's not like it will be any better with me there," he insisted.

"Yes it will! We need someone's smart comments to make us laugh even though you aren't meaning to be funny!"

"...To get you to stop bugging me...I'll go, but I'm only watching...from a far distance," he said.

"Yes! Thank you!" Ash jumped up and ran out, leaving the other three to stare at him. As he passed the Valaries, he noted that they were already getting ready. They're always early Ash thought. He sped past, not paying attention to Milo's look. Ash knew he'd win...

This will be a very short story, kay kay? At least...two or three chapters. It's not like I have this idea from experience though, I just made it up. Anyway, next chappie will be that night. I'll give you a little sneak peek of a few lines said (not who said it though...)

"If you want to light all of them up at the same time, why not make them face the same way?"

"Because it's impossible!"

"No it's not."

"Then you come do it!"

And that's one...of many...I feel like Yoda...but maybe that's because I'm watching a Star Wars marathon...I have all and seen all but episode three...HEY! It's on now!... Oops, I meant...Gotta go! Bye!